Matt Holliday Has To Be Offensive Star For St. Louis Cardinals

By Andy Schmidt

Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports

It is obvious that Matt Holliday is a superstar in Major League Baseball but the 2013 season may be the biggest test ever for Holliday. Holliday is now the best player on a St. Louis Cardinals team that could have trouble winning on a consistent basis and he will need to pick up even more slack than he has ever during his career. This could be the year where Holliday has to try to earn his huge contract.

Holliday hit 27 home runs last season for St. Louis in his third full year with the team but the pieces around him are beginning to come apart with players like Albert Pujols and Lance Berkman not with the Cardinals any more. There could easily not be as many chances to knock in runs in St. Louis this season but Holliday has shown before that he can be a one-man wrecking crew. Holliday just might have to match his 2007 season where he had 216 hits, 137 RBI and hit .340.

It is definitely going to be an uphill climb this season for St. Louis if they want to win the National League Central but this is Holliday’s time to shine and take the spotlight. While the pitching staff won’t be as strong as it has been in previous years, Holliday can at least help get more offense and runs on the board. This becomes a critical season for Holliday at age 33 as he begins the final years of his career. Can Holliday keep the Cardinals afloat all year? We must wait and see what Holliday can do

Andy Schmidt is a columnist/writer for RantSports. Follow him on Twitter @ASchmidtSports, like his Facebook page or add him to your network on Google.